Brush handle connection



1951 E. c. RACKLIFFE 0 BRUSH HANDLE CONNECTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1948 5 1". 1o N I EL/EENE HIE/13112 Jan. 2, 1951 E. c. RACKLIFFE BRUSH HANDLE CONNECTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2 948 I l ELIE-ENE EEI IEHL/FFE LXI; v m /fizzx tend above the plate and serve for the attachment of a wing or equivalent nut 9, whereby the bolt head (not shown) lies within the mass of bristles 2, and against the underneath surface H] of the broom head, and the bolt and nut serve to releasably secure the handle upon the broom head.

The cranked plate 8 of the handle construction according to Fig. I and II is formed at its one extremity with a depending lip I I which engages in a recess [2 formed in the upper surface of the broom head and serves to secure the head and handle against relative angular adjustment when the nut 9 is tightened into operative position.

When it is desired to employ the broom head with the possibility of the relative angular position of the head and handle being adjusted, the alternative handle 4 of Fig. III and IV is employed in place of the handle 3. The handle 4 also has a cranked but lip-less plate l3, whereby the plate presents a fiat surface M to the upper surface of the broom head and by loosening the wing nut 9 permits the handle to be adjusted to any required angular position relatively to the broom head. Thus the handle can be secured to extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the broom head, as is usual with fixed broom handle constructions and as is shown in the full line handle position of Fig. IV, or the handle can be swung to either dotted position, as shown in Fig. IV, and in either of which positions the broom handle extends in the direction of said longitudinal axis and permits the broom to be correspondingly operated. That is to say, with the handle position thus adjusted the sweeping operation would be performed with the brush operating endwise. Other angular positions are, of course, possible between said full line and dotted positions.

Referring now to the second embodiment of the invention, as shown in Fig. V to IX, in this embodiment either an angular adjustable or fixed angular positioning of the handle relatively to the broom head is obtainable with the same handle [4 in association with a separate plate member [5 having a depending lip IE5 at one extremity and an opening I! through which the securing bolt 18 can be passed. In this construction also the broom head 19, having the conventional bristles 20, has a central vertical bore 2| through which the bolt I8 is capable of being passed to position its head 22 against the underneath surface of the broom head and its screw-threaded extremity 23 beyond the upper surface of the head for the attachment of the securing wing or equivalent nut 24. A spring washer 22a can be employed in association with the nut head 22 to secure the required connection of the broom handle and broom head.

The handle M has a cranked plate 25 secure at its one extremity, which cranked plate, as in the case of the previously described cranked plates 8 and [3, provides that the handle proper is inclined to the broom head when secured upon the latter and provides also a fiat end portion 26 having a pair of longitudinally spaced openings 21 and 28, either of which serves for the passage of the bolt l8. The plate also has the single opening I1,

5 in said recess to hold the plate and broom head ,4 previously mentioned; which opening serves also for the passage of the bolt, with the plate positioned to overlap the plate portion 26 and the depending lip 16 engaged in a recess 29 in the top surface of the broom head l9.

To use this second embodiment of the invention, to permit the relative angular position of the broom head and handle to be varied at will with the handle retained upon the broom head, the handle I4, plate I5, and broom head l9, are connected together by the bolt 23 and nut 24, as shown in Figs. V, VI and VII. In this connected condition, the bolt 23 passes through the opening 28 in the cranked handle end plate 25 as well as through the registered opening I! of the overlying plate I5. In this connected condition, therefore, and as shown clearly in Figs. VI and VII, there is sufficient clearance 30 between the end edge 3| of th handle end plate 25 and the depending lip 16 as to permit angular movement of the handle and plate 25 relatively to the broom head to be efiected when the nut 24 is slackened. Thus, the handle can be swung from its full line position as shown in Fig. VII to either of the dotted line positions as shown in this figure, as well as to intermediate angular positions.

If, however it is desred that the handle and broom head should be connected together in fixed angular relationship the connection of the parts is as shown in Figs. VIII and IX. In this connected condition the bolt 18 is passed through the opening 2'! of the cranked handle end plate 25, with the result that the clearance 30 is taken up and the end edge 3| is brought up against the depending lip [6, as shown clearly in Fig. VIII. Accordingly, angular adjustment movement of the handle I4 is precluded.

In both embodiments of the invention provision is made whereby the depending lip II or [5 can be engaged respectively in either the recess I2 or 29, or in an alternative recess 32 on the opposite side of the broom head surface. This permits the broom handle to be secured in position upon the broom head so that it is directed away to the right or left of the broom head. In this way compensation may be made for wear on the bristles 2 or 20 due to the sweeping operation taking place continuously in the same direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire should define the scope of the required patent protection is as follows:

1. In combination, a broom head having a bolt receiving opening therein, a separate handle the inner end of which is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced openings either of which is capable of being registered with said bolt opening, a separate anchor plate having an opening therein also capable of being registered with said bolt opening with the sad anchor plate and broom head held against movement relatively to one another, and a bolt member adapted to be received in said registered openings to secure the handle upon the broom head with the said plate either permitting or preventing relative angular adjustment of the broom head or handle, depending upon whether the bolt is engaged in one or the other of said pair of openings in the said handle end.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said broom head is formed with a recess in its upper surface and in laterally spaced relationsh p to said bolt opening and the said anchor plate is formed with 2.- depending lip engageable against relative movement when the anchor p'ate is secured in operative position by said bolt, with the latter engaged in sad plate opening, said lip forming an abutment for the said handle end portion to prevent angular movement of the handle relatively to the broom head when the handle is secured upon the broom head with the bolt engaged in that one of the said pair of openings which is remote from said lip.

3. An angularly adjustable broom head and handle assembly comprising a broom head having a lower bristle supporting surface and an upper surface upon which the handle is adjustably clamped, a threaded bolt member having the head portion engaging with said lower surface and extending upwardly through said head to provide a threaded stud portion extending through and above said upper surface, a handle having at its lower end a flat metal member angularly disposed to the longitudnal axis of the handle to permit the same to rest flat upon said upper surface, a hole defined in said metal memsaid projection tohold said plate against rotation 1 upon said stu'd portion, and a clamp member threaded uporif'the upper end of said stud to engage said plate to adjustably clamp said metal member for relative angular movement between said plate and said upper surface. I

EUGENE C. RACKLIFFE.

REFERENCES CITED The followingi referenoes are of record in the file of this patent: W o

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 656,686 Wolf Aug. 28, 1900 1,947,697 Cohen Feb. 20, 1934 

